Supporting device.



F. N. THAYER.

SUPPORTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.15, 1913.

1,084,504. Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

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FRED N. TI-IAYER, F IBINGHAMTON, NEW YORK.

SUPPORTING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 13, 1914.

Application filed March 1-5, 1913. Serial No. 754,434.

sive construction which, when not in use may be knocked down for storageor transportaticn.

A further obj ect of the invention is to produce a simple and efiicientsupporting de vice which may be readily adjusted for the purpose ofsupporting blinds of various dimensions.

A further object of the invention is to produce a supporting deviceincluding means whereby a blind may be supported in such fashion that itmay be rotated to present either side uppermost.

With these and other ends in view, which will readily appear as thenature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in theimproved construction and'novel arrangement and combination of partswhich will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawing has been illustrated a simple and preferredform of the invention; it being, however, understood that no limitationis necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited,but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of theappended claims may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawing :Figure 1 isa side elevation of the device constructed inaccordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is an end View of the same. Fig. 3is a sectional detail view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by likecharacters of reference.

The improved supporting device may be constructed of any suitablematerial or combination of materials such as wood and metal, but it hasbeen found that it may be practically and eiiiciently constructed mainlyof tubular iron such as ordinary gas pipe and joints or couplingswhereby the pieces of pipe are connected together. This constructlon hasbeen selected for the purpose of illustration.

Bars or end members 1 are provided, each having sockets 2 at the endsthereof wherein legs or supporting members 3 are secured adjustably byset screws 4. The end members 1 are provided about midway between theirends with sleeves 5for the ac ,commodation of a connecting member 6vwhereby said end members are spaced apart, the sleeves being providedwith set screws 7 engaging the connecting member with which the endmembers are thereby adjustably connected. The sleeves 5 are providedwith sockets 8 wherein uprights 9 are mounted and secured by set screws10; Braces 11 may be employed to connect the uprights9 with theconnecting member 6, thereby producing a firm and rigid structure whichmay be readily disassembled or knocked down for storage ortransportation.

The uprights 9 are provided at theirnpper ends with bosses or bearings12 wherein shafts 18 and 13 are supported for rotation, one of saidshafts being provided with a crank 14 whereby it may be manipulated. Theshaft 13 having thecrank 14: is provided with a cross bar 15 havingprongs or barbs 16; a similar cross bar 15 having barbs 16 is mounted onthe'shaft 13 which slides or telescopes in its bearing; a spring 18being employed to force the shaft 13 carrying the cross bar 15 in thedirection of the cross bar 15 on the shaft 13. Mounted adjustably on oneof the uprights 9 is a sleeve 19 having a supporting shelf or bracket20.

In assembling the improved supporting device, the sleeves 5 of the endmembers are properly adjusted on the connecting memher 6 to suit thedimensions of the blinds that are to be operated upon. To mount a blindin position for operation one end thereof may be supported edge-Wise onthe shelf or bracket 20 while being placed in engagement with the barbs16 of the cross bar 15, the opposite end being held or supported by theoperator while being placed in engagement with the barbs 16 of the crossbar 15 on the spring actuated shaft 13'. When rated. A suitable clamp 21mounted on one of the uprights 9 may be used to engage the crank 14 forthe purpose of holding the shafts and the blind supported by said shaftstemporarily against rotation.

l/Vindow blinds, While being painted, require to be frequently turned orotherwise manipulated in order to enable the painter to have access toall of the parts that are to be covered, My improved supporting deviceprovides means whereby a Window blind may not only be securelysupported, but whereby it may be turned or reversed as often as may bedesired Without touching the parts to which paint has been applied.

That is claimed is,: p 1. A supporting device of the class de scribedincluding uprights having bearings, shafts supported for rotation in thebearings, one of said shafts being slida-ble and spring actuated in thedirection of the other shaft, a sleeve on one shaft, barbed cross barson said sleeve and on the opposed shaft, and a crank on one of theshafts.

2. A supporting device of the character described including uprightshaving bearings at their upper ends, shafts supported for rotation insaid bearings, clamping de vices comprising barbed cross bars associatedwith the shafts, one of said cross bars being resiliently supported, acrank connected with one of the shafts, and a shelf or bracketadjustable on one of the uprights.

3. In a supporting device of the class described, a frame includingendmembers, a connecting member with which said end members are adjustablyconnected, legs detachably associated with the end members, uprightsrising from the end members, and braces connecting the uprights with theconnecting member; in combination With shafts supported for rotation onthe uprights, one

of said shafts being spring actuated in the direction of the othershaft, clamping mem bers associated With the shafts, and a shelf orbracket adjustable on one of the uprights. In testimony Whereof I ailiXmy signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

FRED N. THAYER. Witnesses:

JOHN T. SMITH, JAS. T. ROGERS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

1 Washington, D. G.

